EndedUpdated · Source: NSW Rural Fire Service

Balgowlah Bushfire

Balgowlah Bushfire — Sentinel-2 true color Balgowlah Bushfire — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego) True view Fire view
⟷
True view (left): as the eye sees it.
Fire view (right): infrared (SWIR), sees through smoke and brings out the heat.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 brown = already burned
🟠 orange = fire right now

Drag to compare: normal photo on the left, heat brought out on the right.

Green: vegetationBrown: already burnedOrange: fire right nowSentinel-2 · Copernicus

Key facts

Source: NSW Rural Fire Service
JurisdictionFire and Rescue NSW

The story so far

Summary written on Oct 23, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

A brush fire is currently active near Balgowlah, Australia, with response efforts led by Fire and Rescue NSW.

The incident unfolds against the backdrop of the region's typical fire season, which spans from December to March. Across the country, the broader landscape has seen 17,992,843 hectares burned so far in 2026, a figure that runs 48% below the two-decade average.

The bigger picture in Australia

Across Australia, roughly 17,992,843 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 48% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.

Alerts near Balgowlah

This fire is over. We'll email you if satellites detect new fire in this area. Free, no account.

Get alerts
Australia todayLive
14Active3,404Hotspots 48h49Hectares
Last 7 days · risingHow many named wildfires were burning on each of the last 7 days. It rises when there are more than on the earlier days.
All Australia wildfires

Community reports

Reports from people near the fire · unverified

＋ Add info/photo
No reports yet. Nearby? Be the first to report.

Be the first to report what is happening →

Not official emergency information. In an emergency, contact fire services/authorities.

More fires in Australia

See all
Wildfire near BowenActive Wildfire near BamagaActive Wildfire near KalapaEnded Wildfire near StewartonEnded Wildfire near Bowen (Oct 22)Ended Wildfire near NomeContained